Lexical Summary kdab: To speak falsely, to lie, to deceive. Original Word: כְּדַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance false. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to kazab; false: see HEBREW kazab Brown-Driver-Briggs [כְּדַב] adjective False. (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew כזב); — feminine singular absolute מִלָּה כִדְבָה Daniel 2:9 ( > noun appositive K175 M66*#168;). כְּ דִי see דִּי. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Context in DanielThe single occurrence of כְּדַב (kedab) stands in Daniel 2:9, where King Nebuchadnezzar warns Babylon’s sages that if they do not reveal both his dream and its interpretation, they are conspiring “to tell me false and misleading things”. Kedab therefore functions as a pointed accusation of deliberate deception—a verbal strategy meant to buy time and escape judgment. The king’s ultimatum exposes a crisis in which human wisdom, bereft of true revelation, can offer only pretense. Historical Background: Babylonian Court and Deception In the royal courts of the Ancient Near East, diviners, astrologers, and magicians were expected to mediate between the gods and the king. Their social standing depended on demonstrating authentic access to the divine realm. Nebuchadnezzar’s unprecedented demand stripped away the usual margin for equivocation; it forced the counselors either to validate their claims or face execution. Kedab captures the court’s dread of being exposed, underscoring how political power, pagan religion, and human pride can converge in a culture of falsehood. Contrast with Divine Revelation Daniel’s God-given disclosure of the dream (Daniel 2:19–23) provides the stark contrast to kedab. Human intellect resorts to fabrication; divine wisdom unveils mystery. The episode reflects a wider biblical motif: • Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie.” Where kedab signifies fraudulent speech, the prophetic spirit embodies flawless accuracy (Deuteronomy 18:22). Daniel’s success magnifies the supremacy of authentic revelation over manufactured counsel. Intertextual Connections: Falsehood in Scripture 1. Prophetic indictments: Jeremiah 23:32 condemns prophets who “tell of false dreams” leading the people astray. Their kedab-like claims mirror the Babylonians’ attempted deception. Theological Themes Truth is inseparable from God’s character; lying is symptomatic of allegiance to darkness (John 8:44). Kedab thus serves as more than an isolated Aramaic term; it becomes a lens through which Scripture exposes the futility of human scheming and celebrates the certainty of divine utterance. Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching: Daniel 2 prompts congregations to prize Scripture’s authority above popular opinion or professional expertise. Homiletical Points for Reflection 1. Every generation faces the temptation to offer kedab—pleasing narratives that postpone accountability. Summary Kedab encapsulates the peril and poverty of false speech when confronted by the living God. Its solitary appearance in Daniel 2:9 suffices to draw a timeless contrast: human deception versus divine disclosure, shifting expedients versus steadfast truth. In an age still haunted by flattering yet empty words, the narrative calls believers to the same unwavering confidence Daniel displayed—that “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:28). Forms and Transliterations כִדְבָ֤ה כדבה chidVah ḵiḏ·ḇāh ḵiḏḇāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:9 HEB: דָֽתְכ֗וֹן וּמִלָּ֨ה כִדְבָ֤ה וּשְׁחִיתָה֙ [הַזְמִנְתּוּן NAS: to speak lying and corrupt KJV: for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt INT: decree words lying and corrupt prepare 1 Occurrence |
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